Only about three seasons ago, Carlo Ancelotti was leading a team that was nursing a little hope of making Europe. The Covid-year was a period fans watched their team from far away, picking up the kind of results that only top managers like the Italian can conjure with what they have got. Of course, there was some talent in the squad with James Rodriguez added on while Allan was brought in from Napoli to beef up the midfield. Alex Iwobi's renaissance and the partnership of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison upfront too was, on its day, dangerous. In essence, Don Carlo had them ticking with managerial nous which made some of the players surprise themselves. The only problem was that things were not about to be that bad for the Italian and when Real Madrid came calling, he left.
It appears that since then, Carlito has been the structure himself. The club has had nothing that looks like a plan. Moshisri, since he became the owner has spent some money and has fired a few managers but there remain questions about what the vision and ambitions of the club are. Everton fans ideally will want to see the club as the side that should have been knocking strongly on the door of the top six but in the current landscape, they are fast becoming relegation fodder.
Benitez's ill-advised and ill-fated spell started on a worrying note. The quality in the squad had waned. James Rodriguez was not favoured and injuries to key players shot up. But as far as the fans were concerned, the club had lost its way and deviated from its values. The football on offer was simply not acceptable. The lack of genuine investment in the squad that summer was also berserk, in the end, they had started sleepwalking into the relegation zone by the time Lampard arrived.
Lampard? Well, fresh from his sacking at Chelsea, Moshiri handed the reins of a directionless club to a burgeoning manager who, to be fair, was just off another rudderless appointment. Lampard always claimed to know what the fans wanted and though there was occasional excitement, results never rose to the level required. Last season was a complete cycle with the former England International returning the Toffees exactly where he met them one year on.
Sean Dyche eventually pulled the miracle to keep the Merseysiders up. But it feels more like a final warning than a platform to build upwards. In some sections, some fans may be forgiven for thinking it would have been better if they got relegated. The fact is, Leicester paid for a largely mediocre season and Everton deserved to too. Maybe the Foxes did not react to Rodgers' poor form quickly.
Going into next season, the fans have every reason to be concerned. Although Sean Dyche looks like the decent manager they need to stay competitive, there is the concern that there is no real plan. Dyche's teams are known to be organized defensively and not the most imaginative. Everton fans have got to condone that. But the squad shape has even got problems if the former Burnley coach is going to shape his style.
Again, the over-reliance on Calvert-Lewin for goals has cost them. The English striker cannot be fit. Nobody knew where the goal was going to come from until Doucore found the top corner. There is a need for investment.
Then, there is the disunity and tension around the club. The fans have lost faith in the ownership and board. There's nothing to be excited about. The new stadium is in progress but money issues hit hard. In general, it is not a club in a good place. Whether Dyche can galvanize the club and push them towards a positive campaign next season is yet to be seen. Toxicity, tension and lack of leadership are the founding blocks of the very disaster Everton is flirting with. Next season may just be a step too far.
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